THE BSE crisis should not be looked on as exclusively a farmers' problem but as a dilemma for the whole economy, the Taoiseach has said.
Responding to critical remarks yesterday by the IFA president,
Mr John Donnelly, Mr Bruton said that those commenting on the crisis served their case better by mobilising the widest possible support rather than "engaging in the type of superficial comment" that the farm leader had "allowed himself to fall into".
"That sort of language is not helpful to the cause of farmers because it creates a type of name calling atmosphere that is not good for anybody."
The EU aid package, sought by the Government to deal with the BSE crisis which was now almost complete would involve "very substantial expenditure" to assist farmers who had problems disposing of their stock.
"I believe it (the aid package) will be of very considerable benefit. If further aid was necessary, we would of course be willing to look for that aid from the EU. We will be monitoring the situation, very, very closely," Mr Bruton said.
It was important to make the point that no government anywhere could force people to buy beef. That was a decision for individuals.